10th News: Supporting Illinois Manufacturers
October is Manufacturing Month, and to highlight the importance of manufacturing in our state, the Illinois Manufacturing Association (IMA) is on a 20-stop Makers on the Move bus tour. Noting the breadth and diversity of Lake County’s and Illinois’s 10th District manufacturing sector, IMA chose to kick off their tour at the newly opened College of Lake County Advanced Technology Center in Gurnee. I was honored to join IMA and the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center to celebrate the companies and the people who help drive our economy by making so many of the products that enhance our lives.
Manufacturing is the bedrock of the American economy. I am committed to supporting the manufacturing industry, so it continues to grow here in the 10th district of Illinois and nationwide. I will continue working to pass bipartisan legislation such as the CHIPS and Science Act and the Ocean Shipping Reform Act to help industry meet the challenges stretching them thin.
Manufacturers also need access to trained, capable, and motivated people. That’s why I am so proud to work with institutions like the College of Lake County (CLC) to ensure that our students are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in their careers, from engineering and design, to production, to sales and support.
CLC’s new Advanced Technology Center is filled with state-of-the-art equipment to give students a hands-on learning experience. I had the privilege of meeting some of the program’s current students who showed me they are incredibly invested in the subjects they are learning and surely eager to put their skills to work in the real world.
I can’t wait to see the manufacturing industry flourish even more in the district in the years to come!
If you want to talk more about manufacturing in Illinois or education, the economy, or any other topic of interest, I invite you to join me for a Congress on Your Corner this Saturday, October 15th, at 10:00 am in Buffalo Grove. We will discuss recent legislation, and I will answer your questions while providing an update on my work in Washington fighting for Illinois families.
RSVP here (address provided upon RSVP)
Please keep reading for more information about what is happening in Washington and at home.
AROUND THE DISTRICT
STEAM Scholars
I was excited to welcome my fifth cohort of the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Scholars this Monday with a visit to Abbott Laboratories in North Chicago. This year’s class represents a diverse group of 31 sophomores and juniors from 15 area schools, all united by an interest in STEAM.
The fantastic team at Abbott graciously welcomed the students and provided an opportunity to both meet with some of their incredible scientists and conduct hands-on activities themselves. The students had a chance to build wearable devices and, after a delicious lunch, create their own nutritional snack bars. (Abbott’s product portfolio includes medical diagnostic and testing devices, pharmaceuticals, and nutritional products such as Zone Perfect Protein Bars.) The students’ nutritional bar creations were varied, and every student had varying degrees of success mastering the bar shape.
The STEAM Scholars program hosts some of my favorite student events of the year because it fosters students’ interest in STEAM education and prepares them for future jobs. I'm thankful Abbott made our first trip of the year so successful!
Lake County Tech Campus Celebration of Partnerships
This week, I also had the honor of addressing the Lake County Tech Campus Celebration of Partnerships. Tech Campus offers twenty programs that give students the opportunity to participate in curriculums ranging from Industrial Technology to Early Education and Teaching to Game Programming and Virtualization. Tech Campus plays a crucial role in providing a pool of qualified candidates to power the industries in Lake County—from manufacturing to cosmetology to the medical industry.
College of Lake County is an important Tech Campus partner that offers students dual credit opportunities—facilitating students' transition between high school and college as well as reducing costs. The combination of dedicated staff and educational and business partnerships makes Tech Campus a leader in helping students join our local workforce throughout Lake County and beyond.
North Chicago Public Safety Fair
I had a great time greeting constituents and our first responders Saturday morning at the North Chicago Public Safety Fair. It’s always great to see the community come together and share time with one another.
National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) Fireside Chat
Earlier this week, I had a great discussion at NAHREP's fireside chat on what Congress can do to lower barriers to homeownership and expand economic opportunity.
Mayor Rotering Receiving the Courageous Leadership Award
I was incredibly honored to introduce my dear friend, Mayor Nancy Rotering, at the Coalition to Reduce Recidivism in conjunction with Coalition Legal 19th Annual Luncheon where she received the Courageous Leadership Award.
In the aftermath of the shooting at the July 4th Parade, Mayor Rotering sprang into action. She led a shocked community through some of the most painful moments we've ever experienced. Mayor Rotering stepped up as a strong voice for communities across the nation exhausted by the epidemic of gun violence, even testifying in a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to call for a ban on assault weapons. Her courage and dedication will forever be remembered and greatly appreciated by more people than she could ever know.
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON
Fiscal Year 2023 Funding
As you may know, our federal government operates on a fiscal year running from October 1 through September 30. The goal is to pass and fund the annual government budget before the year ends on September 30, but as in previous years, the Senate did not start the process in time to finish their work by the deadline. Consequently, last month Congress passed what is called a Continuing Resolution or “CR” to continue funding the government through December 16th, when hopefully Congress will complete the fiscal year 2023 budget. In addition to the temporary funding bill, Congress also approved supplemental funding for FEMA following the recent storms and fires, as well as monies to continue supporting Ukraine as they defend their country against Russia’s illegal invasion. You can read more about the legislation here: Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023.
The House Committee on Appropriations has completed 24 bill markups and has finished negotiating the 12 budget bills to be ready for further negotiations with the Senate. The bills include funds that will tackle climate change, make healthcare more affordable, invest in education, foster safer communities, support mental health, and improve veterans’ health care services. Additionally, the twelve bills include many provisions that I personally advocated for that will benefit constituents in the Tenth District, including funding for all 15 of the community projects I submitted. I will continue to push for all those provisions to make it across the finish line in the final legislation that becomes law.
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITY
Please visit my website at schneider.house.gov/resources/local-resources to find resources for the following services, and more:
- Affordable Internet Connectivity Program
- Smart 9-1-1
- 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 9-8-8 for Veterans
- Maternal Mental Health Hotline
- Uniting for Ukraine
- Unincorporated Residents Eligible for Flood Insurance Premium Discounts
- Ride Lake County
CONTACT MY OFFICE
As always, I want to hear from you. Please Email Me on my website or call my DC office at (202) 225-4835 if you’d like to share your thoughts on any matter. And if you need help with a federal agency, fill out a Privacy Release Form or call my Lincolnshire office at (847) 383-4870 so my casework team can assist you.
IN CLOSING –
This week, I want to continue introducing you to my team. This time around, though, we’ll travel to Washington, D.C., and meet my staff on the Hill. Casey O’Shea is my Chief of Staff; he reports directly to me. Some of his duties include helping make sure my team is doing our best every day to serve our constituents, hiring talented staff to help advance my legislative agenda, and setting policies and procedures that help my office run as efficiently as possible.
Without all the foundational work Casey does behind the scenes, it would be challenging for me and any of my staffers to get our jobs done. I am beyond grateful for all the work and support Casey has provided so that I can serve you best.
Stay strong, stay safe, stay healthy.
Sincerely,
Bradley S. Schneider
Member of Congress